MCSA Search & Rescue is a volunteer run organisation formed under the auspices of the MCSA and funded by MCSA members and donations. We offer wilderness rescue services to bona fide emergencies without charge as a community service. We work in conjunction with other public and private emergency services agencies such as the South African Air Force, WASAR, Off Road Rescue Unit, K9 Rescue, Police, Fire Services, Private Medical services and many others.

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MCSA Search & Rescue is a volunteer run organisation formed under the auspices of the MCSA and funded by MCSA members and donations. The first MCSA led rescue was in 1893. The MCSA offer wilderness rescue services to bona fide emergencies without charge as a community service. It works in conjunction with other public and private emergency services agencies such as the South African Air Force, WSAR, Off Road Rescue Unit, K9 Rescue, Police, Fire Services, Private Medical services and many others.

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MCSA Search and Rescue's area of specialisation lies in the mountains. We therefore are able to respond to incidents in a mountainous or wilderness area which involves missing, overdue, stuck or injured persons.

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MCSA Search and Rescue's area of specialisation lies in the mountains and is able to respond to incidents in a mountainous or wilderness area which involves missing, overdue, stuck or injured persons.

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For emergencies contact:

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For emergencies contact the following numbers (primary numbers in '''bold''' - correct as of Jul 2012):

The MCSA (specifically the Johannesburg and Magaliesberg Sections) owns and manages several of the kloofs in the Magaliesberg. Access to these kloofs is controlled for conservation reasons. Up to 20 persons per day can visit a kloof via a permit system (depending on which kloof). A fee of R15 per person per day is charged which goes towards conservation work on the properties (e.g. eradication of alien vegetation as well as fire breaks). MCSA members does not require permits to access MCSA properties when carrying their membership cards, in addition each MCSA member may be accompanied by a guest. '''Note that no facilities are provided and paths are not marked. '''

== HELP KEEP OUR ACCESS OPEN ==

== HELP KEEP OUR ACCESS OPEN ==

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Above all remember that many of the properties you climb on are privately owned and upsetting the owner (which has proved to be very easy) often causes them to close access.

Above all remember that many of the properties you climb on are privately owned and upsetting the owner (which has proved to be very easy) often causes them to close access.

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== PERMITS TO VISIT THE MAGALIESBERG ==

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The MCSA (specifically the Johannesburg and Magaliesberg Sections) owns and manages several of the kloofs in the Magaliesberg. Access to these kloofs is controlled for conservation reasons and the number of permits is limited. Up to 20 persons per day can visit a kloof via the permit system (depending on the kloof). The permit fee goes towards conservation work on the properties (e.g. eradication of alien vegetation as well as fire breaks). MCSA members does not require permits to access MCSA properties when carrying their membership cards, in addition each MCSA member may be accompanied by a guest. '''Note that no facilities are provided and paths are not marked. '''

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Permits are available, subject to availability, at R35 per adult per day, R25 for students and high school scholars and R15 for children under 13 years (fee subject to change). No permits are available the first weekend of a month (members only). Different rates apply to commercial activities please enquire (additional restrictions apply).

Note that additional fees may apply for members / non-members may apply for parking on private land / access via private land (e.g. when non-members access Tonquani via Mountain Sanctuary Park an additional R50 per adult, R30 per child and R20 per vehicle applies) – please ask when booking permits and keep to the arrangement with neighbours to MCSA property.

== LINKS ==

== LINKS ==

'''[http://www.mcsa.org.za http://www.mcsa.org.za]'''

'''[http://www.mcsa.org.za http://www.mcsa.org.za]'''

'''[http://www.theuiaa.org http://www.theuiaa.org]'''

'''[http://www.theuiaa.org http://www.theuiaa.org]'''

Revision as of 10:39, 8 August 2012

The Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA) is the largest and oldest mountaineering club in South Africa. It facilitates and organises various mountaineering activities including rock climbing and hiking). The MCSA is involved in mountain search and rescue, training, conservation of mountain areas and the procurement of access for mountaineering.

Contents

HISTORY

The MCSA was founded in 1891 and hence is one of the oldest mountaineering clubs in the world. The MCSA is one of only two mountain clubs in Africa which are affiliated to the world mountaineering body, the UIAA. Members of the MCSA have climbed and hiked on all the major mountain ranges throughout the world. Since its inception, the MCSA has published an annual journal. The MCSA Journal is one of the oldest mountain club journals still being published on an annual basis.

The Club is organised into 14 sections geographically spread over South Africa and Namibia and has more than 4000 members.

Amajuba

Cape Town

Eastern Province

Free State

Hottentots Holland

Johannesburg

KwaZulu-Natal

Magaliesberg (Pretoria)

Namibia

Paarl/Wellington

South Cape

Stellenbosch

Tygerberg

Worcester

The objectives of the Mountain Club of South Africa are to further the interests of mountaineering in South Africa and elsewhere, and in doing so inter alia to:

Organise and facilitate mountaineering

Procure and protect real rights in and access to mountains and mountain areas

Initiate and support actions towards protecting the natural beauty and wilderness character of mountains and to promote their effective conservation management

Promote the safety and training of mountaineers

Organise search and rescue parties

Promote the study of mountains and their environments, the preservation of historical and archaeological sites on them and the dissemination of information on mountains and mountaineering.

SEARCH AND RESCUE

MCSA Search & Rescue is a volunteer run organisation formed under the auspices of the MCSA and funded by MCSA members and donations. The first MCSA led rescue was in 1893. The MCSA offer wilderness rescue services to bona fide emergencies without charge as a community service. It works in conjunction with other public and private emergency services agencies such as the South African Air Force, WSAR, Off Road Rescue Unit, K9 Rescue, Police, Fire Services, Private Medical services and many others.

MCSA Search and Rescue's area of specialisation lies in the mountains and is able to respond to incidents in a mountainous or wilderness area which involves missing, overdue, stuck or injured persons.

For emergencies contact the following numbers (primary numbers in bold - correct as of Jul 2012):

HELP KEEP OUR ACCESS OPEN

A great deal of work is done by the MCSA to keep access to climbing areas open, please adhere to all access arrangements and help keep climbing and hiking areas open to all. We are seeing many climbing areas overseas losing access and the same is happening in South Africa. Please support our efforts and help stem the trend.

Please contact the MCSA before visiting unknown climbing areas which might be sensitive to access, very often negotions are in progress and you visiting the area can upset them or even close the access. Always keep noise levels down at climbing areas, never litter, preserve the fauna and flora, do your ablutions far from rivers and bury them thoroughly. Remember that fires are usually prohibited in most areas, please respect this and other access conditions the owners may have set (e.g. in many areas you may only arrive and leave in daylight hours).

Above all remember that many of the properties you climb on are privately owned and upsetting the owner (which has proved to be very easy) often causes them to close access.

PERMITS TO VISIT THE MAGALIESBERG

The MCSA (specifically the Johannesburg and Magaliesberg Sections) owns and manages several of the kloofs in the Magaliesberg. Access to these kloofs is controlled for conservation reasons and the number of permits is limited. Up to 20 persons per day can visit a kloof via the permit system (depending on the kloof). The permit fee goes towards conservation work on the properties (e.g. eradication of alien vegetation as well as fire breaks). MCSA members does not require permits to access MCSA properties when carrying their membership cards, in addition each MCSA member may be accompanied by a guest. Note that no facilities are provided and paths are not marked.

Permits are available, subject to availability, at R35 per adult per day, R25 for students and high school scholars and R15 for children under 13 years (fee subject to change). No permits are available the first weekend of a month (members only). Different rates apply to commercial activities please enquire (additional restrictions apply).

Note that additional fees may apply for members / non-members may apply for parking on private land / access via private land (e.g. when non-members access Tonquani via Mountain Sanctuary Park an additional R50 per adult, R30 per child and R20 per vehicle applies) – please ask when booking permits and keep to the arrangement with neighbours to MCSA property.